My First Summer 



walked along the trail, chatting all the way 

 back to the hotel, talking of school days, 

 friends in Madison, of the students, how 

 each had prospered, etc., ever and anon 

 gazing at the stupendous rocks about us, 

 now growing indistinct in the gloaming, 

 and again quoting from the poets, a rare 

 ramble. 



It was late ere we reached the hotel, and 

 General Alvord was waiting the Professor's 

 arrival for dinner. When I was introduced 

 he seemed yet more astonished than the 

 Professor at my descent from cloudland and 

 going straight to my friend without know- 

 ing in any ordinary way that he was even 

 in California. They had come on direct 

 from the East, had not yet visited any of 

 their friends in the state, and considered 

 themselves undiscoverable. As we sat at 

 dinner, the General leaned back in his 

 chair, and looking down the table, thus 

 introduced me to the dozen guests or so, 

 including the staring fisherman mentioned 

 [ 248. ] 



